May 14, 2011 - The first session of the 95th General Assembly of Missouri ended at 6 p.m., May 13, 2011. The session began with the emotional fervor of the majority Republican party proclaiming great changes they would make in the state during the upcoming legislative session.

Among those issues were those that were political in nature, bills that would produce no employment and create no economic gains for our state. Those bills were simply meant to reduce the capacity of labor unions to advocate for our members and so reduce the participation of working people in the political process in our state.

SB 1, a so-called Right to Work bill, would have produced not one job but would have ultimately created a lower standard of living for all. Fortunately, the bill lacked the support of the more learned and prudent members of the Missouri Senate and even less support in the Missouri House of Representatives and did not pass.

SB 202, a so-called paycheck protection bill, would have singled out labor union members requiring their annual written authorization for payroll deduction to the union political pact. No other entity would have been required to do so because employers would have been provided a loophole in the bill to avoid its limitations. The bill failed to gain the necessary support, and did not pass. Read more by clicking here.